Université de Montréal

Ranked #141 globally (QS) and 5th in Canada, Université de Montréal is the leading French-language research university in the world — and the academic home of Mila, the planet's largest academic AI research institute. For students willing to embrace French and an extraordinary multicultural city, UdeM offers world-class research access, affiliated schools of global repute, and a cost of attendance that is a fraction of comparable Anglo-American peers.

UdeM is not a back-up choice — it is a destination. Its medicine, law, AI, and life sciences faculties are among Canada's most competitive. With 45,000 students and 25% international enrolment, the campus is vibrantly global while remaining deeply rooted in Quebec's unique French-language culture. If you are an ambitious student who is serious about research, health sciences, or AI, and prepared to commit to French as your language of study, UdeM belongs near the top of your list.

Real, freely-licensed photographs of the campus (via Wikimedia Commons).

UdeM sits at the intersection of world-class research, a legendary city, and an academically serious French-speaking culture. Here is why international students choose it over better-known Anglophone alternatives.

With an overall acceptance rate of 50%, UdeM is selective but accessible — the nuance is that selectivity varies sharply by faculty. Medicine, Law, Dentistry, and Computer Science are among the most competitive programmes in Canada; many arts and social science programmes are more accessible. International students should assess selectivity at the programme level, not the institution level.

UdeM admits primarily on the basis of academic performance. Your secondary school grades — assessed against Quebec's DEC (CEGEP) standard for Quebec students, and against equivalent international benchmarks for international students — are the primary factor. There is no standardised test requirement for most undergraduate programmes. IB Diploma holders are well-recognised and an IB score around 32 meets the general threshold, though competitive programmes expect higher.

UdeM uses a direct application system via its own Centre étudiant portal (admission.umontreal.ca). Unlike Ontario's OUAC, Quebec universities process applications independently. Here is what the typical undergraduate international application requires.

UdeM's admissions philosophy is grades-centred and credential-based for most undergraduate programmes. There is no holistic review process analogous to US universities. What matters most:

Academic performance in your most recent studies is the primary — and often decisive — criterion. For international students, your secondary school grades are compared against equivalency tables that UdeM maintains for each country's education system. Preparation in the key prerequisite subjects for your target programme (mathematics for science/engineering, sciences for health, etc.) matters significantly. French language proficiency is non-negotiable for French-taught programmes — a B2 level is the minimum, and stronger French improves your prospects and day-to-day experience enormously.

UdeM operates on three academic sessions. Most international students target Fall (September) intake. Deadlines vary by programme — always verify on the official admissions portal for your specific programme.

Deadlines listed here are indicative. Always confirm programme-specific deadlines at admission.umontreal.ca before applying.

The UdeM campus sits on the northern slope of Mount Royal — a remarkable urban park — in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, one of the most ethnically diverse communities in all of Canada. The campus itself is compact and walkable, connected by metro (Université-de-Montréal station) to the rest of Montreal within minutes.

Montreal is one of the world's great student cities. It is bilingual by nature — you will hear French and English on any street — but the university operates in French, immersing you in Quebec culture from the first day. The cost of living (around US $14,000 annually) is low by North American standards, enabling a quality of life that Toronto or Vancouver cannot match at the same price point. Housing ranges from on-campus residences for first-year students to affordable off-campus apartments in Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mile-End, and Rosemont — neighbourhoods beloved by students globally.

UdeM's CEPSUM sports complex, libraries, student associations, and cultural events calendar make campus life rich. International students are supported by the Bureau des étudiants internationaux (BEI), which provides orientation, immigration advice, and integration programmes.

UdeM graduates benefit from the university's deep connections with Montreal's professional ecosystem — Canada's second-largest city, and a global hub for AI, video games, aerospace, film, finance, and life sciences.

Medicine, Dentistry, Law, and Pharmacy graduates from UdeM are among the most sought-after in Quebec, with near-universal professional employment rates. AI and Computer Science graduates from the Mila ecosystem are recruited globally by companies like Google, Meta, DeepMind, and Montreal's own AI unicorns. Business graduates from HEC Montréal (affiliated) rank among Canada's most employable. French proficiency opens the full Francophone world — France, Belgium, Switzerland, Africa, and Southeast Asia — alongside Quebec and Canada.

UdeM's international alumni network, while strongest in Quebec and French-speaking countries, has growing reach globally through Mila alumni who have dispersed to leading AI labs worldwide.

Université de Montréal is a research-intensive environment with rigorous academic expectations. For international students, admission is primarily grade-based — but success here demands genuine academic preparation, French-language fluency, and readiness to engage with a demanding research culture from early in your degree.

UdeM does not publish standardised test requirements (SAT/ACT are not part of the Quebec admission culture). Assessment is based on secondary school results and equivalency calculations.

UdeM does not require SAT or ACT scores for undergraduate admission. This is consistent with the Quebec university system, which assesses international students on the basis of secondary school academic records and their equivalency to Quebec's Diplôme d'études collégiales (DEC) standard.

If you have taken SAT or ACT tests, you may include them in your application, but they play no evaluative role in undergraduate admissions. For graduate programmes, some disciplines may request GRE or GMAT — check programme-specific requirements. The key credential for most international applicants is a strong, fully verified academic transcript.

Test policy verified as optional. UdeM's admissions are grades-first.

Unlike US universities, UdeM does not use SAT or ACT scores as part of its undergraduate admissions process. Quebec's higher education tradition is fundamentally grades-based.

Students who have taken the SAT or ACT should not spend energy optimising these scores for UdeM's benefit. Instead, focus your energy on maximising your secondary school GPA and IB results, and on demonstrating strong French proficiency. For students applying to competitive programmes like Medicine or Computer Science, your academic transcript is the decisive document.

UdeM formally accepts the IB Diploma, A-Levels, and other recognised international qualifications for undergraduate admission. Each is evaluated against equivalency tables that convert your results into a score comparable to Quebec's DEC.

For IB Diploma holders: a total score of 32 is the general minimum threshold, but this is a floor, not a target. Competitive programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Computer Science, and Engineering typically admit students with scores well above this level. Your Higher Level subject choices should align with the prerequisites of your target programme — advanced mathematics for CS and Engineering; biology and chemistry for health sciences.

A-Level and AP results are also accepted and evaluated through equivalency tables. Verify how your specific qualification maps to UdeM's requirements on the admissions portal.

UdeM's strongest programmes have clear prerequisite subject requirements. Meeting them at the highest level available to you in your curriculum is essential.

Most UdeM programmes are taught in French and require demonstrated French proficiency (B2 level). A small number of graduate programmes are taught in English and require English proficiency. The table below covers English-language proficiency requirements for English-taught graduate programmes.

Duolingo English Test is not currently listed as an accepted test. Verify current accepted tests per programme at admission.umontreal.ca. French proficiency testing is separate and mandatory for most UdeM programmes.

UdeM is grades-first. Your academic plan should prioritise academic rigour and language preparation above all else.

At roughly US $22,000 per year in tuition, Université de Montréal is one of the most affordable QS Top-150 universities available to international students. Combined with Montreal's comparatively low cost of living, UdeM represents exceptional value — though the international tuition differential relative to Quebec residents remains significant. Automatic scholarship evaluation on admission partially offsets this gap.

All figures are estimates from the university's facts profile, expressed in USD. Actual costs in Canadian dollars fluctuate with exchange rates; confirm precise tuition in CAD on the official registrar's site.

Quebec resident and domestic Canadian tuition is substantially lower. International students pay the international rate unless an exemption scholarship applies. All USD figures are approximate conversions.

UdeM operates an automatic exemption scholarship programme for international students. Upon receiving an offer of admission, your academic file is automatically reviewed for eligibility for these awards, which partially offset the differential between international and Quebec resident tuition fees.

There is no separate need-blind financial aid programme equivalent to US universities. Most international financial support at UdeM takes the form of merit-based exemption scholarships and tuition fee reductions rather than grant-based need aid. Graduate students may access research stipends and assistantships through their faculties. It is important to plan your finances based on the full international tuition rate and consider any scholarships as supplementary rather than guaranteed.

The average aid percentage for international students is not published. Verify current exemption scholarship criteria and amounts at the official scholarships portal (bourses.umontreal.ca).

UdeM offers several pathways for international students to access funding. Below are the main categories — verify current named awards and amounts at bourses.umontreal.ca, as specific details change annually.

Relative to comparable research universities in the US, UK, or Australia, UdeM is genuinely affordable. A QS Top-150 institution at approximately US $34,000 total cost of attendance per year (before scholarships) is exceptional value by global standards.

Montreal's cost of living advantage is real — rent, food, and transport are substantially cheaper than Toronto, Vancouver, New York, London, or Sydney. Students living modestly can manage on around US $14,000 per year outside tuition. However, international students should not assume they will receive exemption scholarships — plan conservatively and treat any award as a welcome reduction rather than a guarantee. Quebec student healthcare coverage (RAMQ) is available to eligible international students, which reduces a major hidden cost.

There is no no-loan guarantee or need-blind financial aid policy for international students at UdeM. Students are encouraged to plan for the full cost and apply proactively for all available external awards.

Université de Montréal uses a direct application system — not Common App, UCAS, or any centralised portal. For most undergraduate programmes, admission is grades-based and there is no personal statement or supplemental essay required. However, competitive professional programmes may require a motivational letter or additional documents. This guide explains what you actually need to submit and how to approach it strategically.

Canada's admissions culture — particularly in Quebec — is fundamentally grades-first. Unlike US universities with holistic review and mandatory essays, or UK universities requiring the UCAS personal statement, the vast majority of UdeM undergraduate programmes evaluate you primarily on your academic transcript.

Applications are submitted directly through UdeM's own Centre étudiant portal at admission.umontreal.ca. There is no Common App, no Coalition App, and no OUAC (Ontario's centralised system). Quebec universities run their own admissions independently. For most undergraduate programmes, you upload your transcripts and proof of language proficiency, pay the application fee, and your admission decision is based almost entirely on your academic record.

Exceptions exist: some competitive and professional programmes (e.g. Medicine, Dentistry, Law, some applied arts) may require a personal statement, letter of motivation, portfolio, or supplementary questionnaire. Always check your specific programme's requirements on the official admissions site.

The following represents the types of written components that competitive UdeM programmes may request. Because UdeM's programmes each set their own supplementary requirements — and these change annually — no verbatim prompt text is reproduced here. Always verify the current requirements for your specific programme on the official admissions portal.

If you are coming from a US-centric admissions framework, the absence of a Common App personal statement at UdeM can feel disorienting — but it reflects a genuinely different philosophy.

Quebec's university system was designed around the DEC (CEGEP) — two years of pre-university college that all Quebec students complete before university, with grades and subject selection providing a rich academic signal. For international students, your secondary school GPA and subject choices serve the same function. The system trusts grades as the primary predictor of academic success, and does not require a written narrative to supplement them for most programmes.

This does not mean your written communication skills are irrelevant — they matter deeply once you arrive, and are tested constantly in French through exams, essays, and seminars. The difference is that you are not asked to perform them pre-admission.

If your target UdeM programme requires any written component, it will almost certainly be in French. The quality of your written French in that document signals directly whether you are ready to succeed academically at a French-language research university.

Do not draft your lettre de motivation in English and translate it. Write it in French from the beginning. Have it reviewed by a native French speaker or a professional with academic French editing experience. The vocabulary, register, and rhetorical conventions of academic French are distinct from conversational French and from English academic writing. A letter that reads as translated, or that uses colloquial French, significantly weakens your application.

For programmes in English (some graduate CS, Law): write in clear, precise academic English. Avoid jargon, use concrete examples, and prioritise clarity over sophistication.